Celebritology 2.0: August 22, 2010 - August 28, 2010

A 2007 photo of Paris HIlton. (AP) Paris HIlton was arrested in Las Vegas overnight on charges of felony cocaine possession, the Associated Press is reporting. Hilton, 29, and her boyfriend, Cy Waits, were arrested on the Las Vegas Strip after, according to AP, police spotted what appeared to be a cloud of marijuana smoke wafting out of the Cadillac Escalade in which they were riding. Cocaine allegedly was found in Hilton's possession, although police did not say how much of the drug they discovered. Hilton was reportedly released from jail this morning; Waits remains in custody while awaiting a hearing on charges of driving under the influence....

Three celeb-centric stories on our radar this weekend... James Cameron is quite the talker. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) Talking Na’avi and oil: Despite James Cameron’s frustrations regarding the solution to the BP oil crisis that he helped drafted in June, the director says he hasn’t given up working with officials in Washington. The Academy Award-winning filmmaker, who chatted via telephone earlier this week as part of the publicity blitz surrounding the theatrical re-release of “Avatar,” reiterated his frustration that several government agencies, in his words, “pretty much completely ignored” recommendations made by a panel of deep-ocean academics and scientists he assembled in an effort to stop all that oil from flowing into the gulf. Cameron asserted, as he has in other interviews, that the so-called static kill that ultimately plugged the leak is identical to what he and his panel proposed. When asked if the episode has soured him on working...

50 Cent on Twitter: Parental Advisory needed. (Interscope Records via PR News Foto) By now, you've probably heard all about 50 Cent's recent adventures in Twitter -- his takeover of tweeting duties from his management company; his use of ridiculously foul language; his decision to tweet a photo of a woman's backside that he compared to both Kim Kardashian and a hamburger, causing his Twitpics account to be briefly suspended; and, of course, his refusal to do chores for his grandmother. It all makes Kanye West's forays into Twitterdom seem decidedly quaint. (Go ahead. Try pairing some of 50 Cent's gems with New Yorker cartoons. I'll wait.)...

Could this man win an Emmy on Sunday? (AP) Television audiences are faced with a tough choice this weekend. They can either proceed with their usual Sunday-night-viewing routines -- tuning in for "Mad Men," then watching the "True Blood" episode they DVR'd, or vice-versa -- or they can stay glued to the Emmy Awards and find out whether the stars of those shows walk away with any trophies. Okay, for some that's not much of a choice. In the battle between hot retro ad executives/vampires vs. award shows, it's pretty easy to determine who wins. But truly, there could be some dramatic, conversation-generating moments during this year's Emmys. In an effort to make fast-forwarding or rewinding the DVR that much easier, today's Friday List is devoted to the eight Emmy moments you may not want to miss....

James Cameron. (AP) Even a 15-minute phone conversation with James Cameron can become epic in scope. During just such a chat this week with Cameron -- the Academy Award-winning filmmaker behind the 3-D blockbuster "Avatar," which reappears in theaters today in an extended, special edition -- we touched on everything from facial CG to environmentalism to Cameron's frustrations about the handling of the BP oil spill. Oh, and Sturmbeests. We talked about those, too. Read the full Q&A for the details....

"The Daily Show" crew, accepting an Emmy in 2009. (AP) Even when the Emmy Awards were at their dullest, one could always depend on solid laughs from one category: the outstanding writing for a variety, music or comedy program. As veteran Emmy viewers know, the respective staffs from the shows nominated in this category -- your "Daily Shows" and "Late Night With Conan O'Briens" -- usually put together a laughably ridiculous rundown that "identifies" each scribe being honored. But with the category scrubbed from Sunday's telecast -- the Emmy went to the staff of "The Colbert Report" during last Saturday's Creative Arts Emmy ceremony -- will those fabulous montages get their due in 2010?...

Bristol Palin, seen here on the set of "The Secret Life of the American Teenager," will reportedly return to the small screen. (Randy Holmes/ABCFamily) Posted by Sarah Anne Hughes E! Online is reporting that Bristol Palin will be on this season of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars." The 19-year-old daughter of Sarah Palin will reportedly dance alongside reality stars Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino of "Jersey Shore" and Audrina Patridge of "The Hills" as well as David Hasselhoff. A rep for ABC would not comment about the casting, saying, "The real 'Dancing With the Stars' cast will be revealed Monday, Aug. 30, live on ABC during 'Bachelor Pad.' " Palin was seen this year on ABC Family's "The Secret Life of the American Teenager." She and baby daddy Levi Johnston ended their second engagement earlier this summer. While Palin's appearance on "Secret Life" made some sense -- it's a show...

Posted by Sarah Anne Hughes Not a lot of people went to see "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World." The film debuted in the No. 5 position at the box office, taking in only $10.5 million despite generally positive reviews. The colorful comic book film fell to 10th place the next weekend, raising the cumulative gross to just $20.7 million. Maybe the film is too comic-booky or too focused at young people. Maybe people just don't like Michael Cera. While "Scott Pilgrim" was not a box office success, it is a surprisingly good vehicle for YouTube mashups....

Idris Elba, snapped at the Mandarin Oriental in Washington. (Photo by Jen Chaney) Mention the name Idris Elba to most women and two potential reactions will follow. The first: They may squeal, profess their love for the actor and/or start fluttering their hands to fan themselves. The second: They might look puzzled for a moment while they try to recall who Elba is. Then, once they are reminded he played Stringer Bell on "The Wire" and Charles Miner on "The Office" and the stalked husband of Beyonce in "Obsessed," a look of recognition will cross their face ... which will immediately be followed by squealing, professions of love and hand-fluttering. Elba -- a native of England who stars in the bank robbery movie "Takers," opening tomorrow -- is undeniably a sex symbol. But he's also an actor committed to taking on a variety of projects, a guy with an...

Celebrity Beat: At a PGA tour event, Tiger Woods discussed how his "actions" led to divorce, how the split has affected his golf game and feeling "sadness" now that the divorce is official... Miley Cyrus and her "The Last Song" co-star Liam Hemsworth have split up, his rep confirms... Now that Lindsay Lohan's out of rehab, can she make a comeback? Check out Lohan's first post-rehab picture and get the rundown on what she's wearing (see: all the product placement)... Prosecutors get results of Mel Gibson investigation... Timbaland denies reports that he contemplated suicide after a watch reportedly worth $2 million was stolen from his home by someone close to him... Kelly Preston and John Travolta are expecting a boy... Remy Gonzalez, co-star of TLC's "Cake Boss," has been arrested on sexual assault charges. Pop Culture: Francis Ford Coppola will receive an honorary Oscar; Fellow recipient Jean-Luc Godard cannot...

A memorial to Aaliyah (AP/Kevork Djansezian) By Sarah Anne Hughes Today marks the ninth anniversary of the untimely death of Aaliyah, the 22-year-old singer-actress who died on this day in 2001 when a twin-engine plane carrying her and her entourage crashed shortly after takeoff following a video shoot in the Bahamas. The sad occasion has prompted fans and friends of the "One in a Million" artist to express condolences via Twitter, making #ripaaliyah a trending hashtag. Rapper Missy Elliott, a close friend who helped produce Aaliyah's second album, tweeted: "Aaliyah was the sweetest spirit I've ever met! She believed in me and tim and [brought] life to our music. U will always b a 1 N A MILLION!" Singer Ciara tweeted, "RIP Aaliyah. U can NEVER be replaced!!" The anniversary also is a reminder that, once upon a time, a biopic about Aaliyah was in the works. But now...

Lindsay Lohan, out of rehab. (AP) | GALLERY Posted by Sarah Anne Hughes Judge Elden Fox set new probation requirements for Lindsay Lohan Wednesday morning after her early release from rehab. The Associated Press is reporting that Lohan's outpatient care will include required random drug and alcohol testing as well as psychotherapy and addiction counseling sessions several times a week until November. She will remain at home -- and must remain in Los Angeles -- until further notice. If Lohan does not comply with these requirements, she will be sent back to jail for 30 days. Lohan was not required to appear in court today and didn't attend the hearing, according to Radar Online.com. The judge dismissed two drug counts that the actress had pleaded guilty to in 2007 and said Lohan's supervised probation lasts until November, but only if she doesn't make any mistakes. Lohan was released from...

Thought this was "The End"? Wrong! (ABC) After that brief online leak a couple of weeks ago, the "Lost" epilogue -- a 12-minute, post-finale chapter called "The New Man in Charge" that plunges us once more into the mythology of the Dharma Initiative -- was officially released Tuesday on the new "Lost" DVD and Blu-ray sets. (Read the full DVD and Blu-ray review here.) This development naturally led to one conclusion -- it's time to revive the dueling analysis! I (Jen Chaney) am here. And yes, despite being on maternity leave, Liz Kelly is here, too. Both of us are ready to break down all the revelations in the epilogue and wrestle with some of the obvious questions, like: why is Connect Four the only board game they can afford at the Santa Rosa Mental Health institute? BIG 'OL SPOILER ALERT NOTE: Before proceeding further, know that there are...

Lindsay Lohan, out of rehab. (AP) | GALLERY Celebrity Beat: Lindsay Lohan released from rehab overnight after spending 22 days of what was supposed to be a three-month stint at UCLA's Neuropsychiatric Hospital ; a court hearing will be held later today to discuss next steps in the case... Elin Nordegren speaks out in People magazine in her first -- and what she says will be the last -- interview; "I have been through the stages of disbelief and shock, to anger and ultimately grief over the loss of the family I so badly wanted for my children," she tells the magazine. "I also feel stronger than I ever have. I have confidence in my beliefs, my decisions and myself"... Lawyers for Michael Douglas and ex-wife Diandra Douglas clash over "Wall Street" money in court... Intruder arrested after attempt to break into Paris HIlton's house with a pair of...

The trailer for AMC's "Walking Dead" -- essentially the same one that sent Comic-Con attendees into rapturous zombie glee in San Diego last month -- is now online, courtesy of the Hollywood Reporter's Live Feed blog (and with some NSFW language). I'll let the post-apocalyptic awesomeness speak for itself. But before I do, know that the series debuts Oct. 31. Which means you may want to cancel your Halloween plans, or at least set the DVR....

Martin Short and Nancy Dolman in 2005. (Getty Images) People magazine is reporting that the death of Nancy Dolman, wife of actor Martin Short, has been attributed to natural causes. A spokesman for the L.A. County Coroner's office says Dolman, 58, was under the care of a private physician at the time of her death. Short's publicist has not confirmed a cause. Dolman and Short, who have three grown children, were married for 30 years. The Toronto native was an actress who worked on the sitcom "Soap" before turning her focus to raising a family. Dolman also was an aunt to the sons of comic actress and "SCTV" veteran Andrea Martin, who has frequently worked with Short. Martin is the ex-wife of Dolman's brother, Bob Dolman, whose screenplay credits include "How to Eat Fried Worms" and "Far and Away." Source: People.com...

Connie Britton, Emmy nominee. (NBC) Connie Britton's days as Tami Taylor -- the smart, spirited and perpetually level-headed mother and wife of Coach Eric Taylor on "Friday Night Lights" -- aren't just numbered. They're over. Last month, Britton and the rest of the "FNL" cast and crew wrapped production on the high school football drama's fifth and final season, to air beginning in October on DirecTV and next year on NBC. But Britton still has plenty to look forward to, most notably Sunday's Emmy Awards, where she and her television husband, Kyle Chandler, are both nominated (finally) for their performances on the series. Britton recently telephoned from New York to talk about that nomination, saying goodbye to "Lights" life and her plans to work with Chandler in the future....

The Situation: working it. (The Situation's Facebook page) Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino is rich, and seemingly getting richer by the minute. As noted by the Hollywood Reporter, the guy who stars alongside his own abs on MTV's "Jersey Shore" -- and may soon become a contestant on "Dancing With the Stars" -- is on track to earn $5 million this year. Some of that money comes from his salary; he reportedly earns $60,000 per episode of the highly rated MTV reality series, as well as lots of cash for event appearances. (Ah, to get paid thousands of dollars just to show up at parties and flash some stomach ripples. It truly is the American dream.) But much of his fortune also derives from the numerous products with which The Situation has associated his valuable brand name. Some of these tie-ins make a certain amount of sense; others, in this...

Martin Short with wife Nancy Dolman at the 2009 Vanity Fair Oscar party. (AP) Celebrity Beat: Martin Short's wife, Nancy Dolman dies suddenly; medics responded to the home on Saturday but no additional details or cause of death have been released; Dolman, who was married to Short for 30 years, underwent surgery for cancer in 2007 but it is unclear if that is related to her death ... Nick Cannon dodges latest rumors about Mariah Carey pregnancy... Elin Nordegren reportedly "relieved and distraught" after divorce from Tiger Woods finalized; speaking of which, who wants to read Woods's post-divorce statement in comic sans font? Anyone?... New judge in Lindsay Lohan case to issue "mystery ruling" Tuesday afternoon... George Michael pleads guilty to two drug offenses... In interview with Associated Press, Fantasia Barrino denies she's a homewrecker, says "The best way for me to clear my name is through my [reality]...

Elin Nordegren and Tiger Woods, in happier times. (AP) It's official: Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren are now divorced. The papers were finalized today in Bay County Circuit Court in Florida, but no settlement terms were divulged. "While we are no longer married, we are the parents of two wonderful children and their happiness has been, and will always be, of paramount importance to both of us," the former couple said in a joint statement. It's tempting to say the mess of the divorce is now behind them. But it probably won't be for a little while. More details -- including that settlement amount -- will undoubtedly be dredged up in the coming days. (TMZ's already released the court papers, in handy, easy-to-print PDF form.) But Woods and Nordegren are at least a little closer to being able to move on. The question is: Can they? Can Nordegren live...

Fantasia Barrino: recovering in the spotlight. (AP) Fantasia Barrino is already speaking to the media about her recent overdose on sleeping pills and aspirin. Tomorrow morning, she'll make an appearance on "Good Morning America." And tomorrow night, she'll speak in even more detail during an episode of VH1's "Behind the Music." People magazine reports that during the VH1 interview -- which airs Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET on the same network that will air season two of the singer's reality show, "Fantasia For Real," in September -- Barrino confirms that her OD was a suicide attempt. "I just sat in the closet and looked at the mirror and took all the pills in the bottle," she says. "I wanted to go to sleep and just be at peace. I knew exactly what I was doing. You can't accidentally take a whole bottle of pills." Some of the comments on...

Yes, someone did pay $25,000 for this. (Profiles in History) (Related read: Review of "Lost: Complete Sixth Season" and "Lost: The Complete Collection" on DVD and Blu-ray) We may be living in challenging economic times. But that didn't stop some "Lost" fans from spending $5,000 on a 12-pack of Dharma Initiative beer -- or $16,000 for the door to the Swan station -- during this weekend's "Lost" auction. Bidding got frenzied and expensive during the two-day sale of props, costumes and other assorted gems from the "Lost" production closets. Held in Santa Monica, Calif., but open to bidders who participated in person, via phone and online, the Profiles in History auction netted $900,000 on Saturday, according to the New York Times, with Sunday totals projected to go well over $1 million. One Celebritology reader told me she was lucky enough to snag Sawyer's outfit from the pilot episode for...

Hi, we're "The Expendables," we've still got guns and we're still No. 1. (Lionsgate) Sylvester Stallone and his posse of pumped-up action heroes held on to the No. 1 spot at the weekend box office. Find out how much money "The Expendables" made, why all hopes for an end to the current era of spoof-movies may have been dashed by "Vampires Suck" and what the performance of "The Switch" says about Jennifer Aniston's star power in this week's box office rundown....

Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer, now husband and wife. (HBO) "True Blood" stars Stephen Moyer and Anna Paquin got married Saturday evening, according to Us Magazine. The "True Blood" lovers -- both onscreen and off -- tied the knot at a ceremony in Malibu that was reportedly attended by "True Blood" co-star Carrie Preston (accompanied by husband Michael Emerson of "Lost" fame) and Elijah Wood. So that's yet another union to add to the Summer of Celebrity Weddings. The marriage is the first for Paquin, who plays the mind-reading Sookie Stackhouse on "Blood," and for Moyer, best known as vampire Bill Compton, who has two children from previous relationships. The pair got engaged in August and already made headlines earlier this week for their racy Rolling Stone cover. Source: Us Magazine...